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Biotech / Medical : Biomatrix (BXM) Looking Great -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: James Baker who wrote (493)	2/17/1999 7:17:00 PM
From: Ted The Technician	Respond to of 569

HEALTH Getting a Grip on Pain cgi.newsweek.com A new drug may revolutionize arthritis care By Geoffrey Cowley Like many arthritis sufferers, 69-year-old Peggie Landvatter faces a daily dilemma. Should she endure the burning pain in her hips and knees--or take her ibuprofen, and transfer the pain to her stomach? "Every time I take something for the arthritis," she says, "it aggravates the ulcer." Nearly a third of America's 40 million arthritis sufferers use drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen to ease their joint pain. Taken in large daily doses, these so-called NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can make daily life bearable--or unbearable. An estimated 107,000 people were hospitalized for NSAID- induced stomach ulcers last year, and 16,500 died of complications from bleeding. But relief may be in sight. Last week advisers to the Food and Drug Administration recommended approval of a new prescription drug called Celebrex. The first in a new class of remedies known as Cox-2 inhibitors, it boasts the same pain-fighting power as other NSAIDs--yet studies suggest it's as easy on the stomach as warm milk. Celebrex could reach the market within the next few months, opening a new era in arthritis care. To appreciate the beauty of the Cox-2 inhibitors, you need to understand how the older NSAIDs work. Scientists discovered back in the 1970s that the drugs handcuff an enzyme called cyclooxygenase--Cox for short. The body's Cox enzymes normally metabolize a fat called arachidonic acid to generate inflammatory hormones called prostaglandins. When a drug like aspirin knocks Cox out of commission, it stalls the production of prostaglandins, dramatically reducing pain and inflammation. The catch is that prostaglandins do more than make us miserable. While some of them spark inflammatory reactions, others work quietly to maintain the lining of the digestive tract. The question was how to suppress the potential troublemakers while letting the housekeepers go about their work. The answer came in 1991, when scientists isolated two distinct Cox enzymes. Conveniently, one of them (dubbed Cox-1) seemed to govern the housekeeping prostaglandins, while the other (Cox-2) specialized in pain and inflammation. By screening hundreds of drug molecules, researchers led by Dr. Philip Needleman of G.D. Searle & Co. found one that bound selectively to Cox-2. The result was Celebrex. Because the new drug has 400 times more affinity for Cox-2 than for Cox-1, even large doses have little effect on digestive tissues. When Searle researchers snaked endoscopes into patients' stomachs, they found that 25 percent of those taking traditional NSAIDs harbored small, harmless lesions. The incidence of lesions was just 5 percent among Celebrex users, the same rate seen among patients receiving a placebo. And whereas 2 to 4 percent of prescription NSAID users suffer overt stomach problems, such as bleeding or ulcers, the rate of such events was just 0.2 percent in Searle's studies. Peggie Landvatter, who took part in a three-month Celebrex trial, found that the drug changed her life. "There was no pain or discomfort," she says, referring to her stomach as well as her joints. "I was doing things I'd put off for years."

To: James Baker who wrote (493)	2/17/1999 7:25:00 PM
From: Ted The Technician	Respond to of 569

Info on Synvisc Question: Do you have any information on the use of Synvisc (Hylan G-F 20) in areas of the body other than the knee? Why is it limited to just that joint? Answer: Both a product called Hyalgan and Synvisc are formulations of sodium hyaluronate. These agents are used to reduce osteoarthritis pain and functional impairment. It is thought that these agents restore the normal synovial fluid environment to the joint. Both are currently Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved only for treatment of pain in osteoarthritis of the knee in people who have failed to respond to nonpharmacologic therapy and to analgesic therapy such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). I am aware of two studies where the safety and efficacy of hyaluronic acid preparations have been studied in patients with painful shoulder and periarthritis (inflammation of the parts surrounding a joint) of the shoulder. These trials were very small and therefore, additional research would need to be conducted to substantiate the findings. In one study, 29 patients with painful shoulder received 3 intra-articular injections given at 3 day intervals. The patients showed improvement in joint mobility, decreased pain, and decreased need for analgesics without any reported side effects. In the second study, 62 patients with periarthritis of the shoulder, receiving sodium hyaluronate once weekly for a minimum of 5 weeks, were evaluated. Increases in joint range of motion and improvement in activities of daily living were reported. No adverse reactions were observed. As with all medications, the FDA has requirements that companies must meet in order for medications to be approved for certain uses. In the cases of Hyalgan and Synvisc, the information submitted by the companies supporting the use of these medications resulted in only an approval for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. At this time, I am not aware if these companies are conducting additional trials in other joints. However, the use of these agents in joints other than the knee is not strongly supported in the medical literature to date. Sondra K. May, Pharm D, Director, Drug Information Center; University of Colorado School of Pharmacy, Denver. 1998 coloradohealthnet.org

To: James Baker who wrote (493)	2/19/1999 12:24:00 AM
From: Steve Research	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 569

Earnings will be out on This Tuesday, The stock is covered by many wall st. firms and has about 50 % of float in short sellers hands. Bottom line, if we see FDA approval on new plant, earnings are in line and demand rermains strong this stock will move 20 points just from short covering, if earnings are better than expectations, look out! the stock could double as it did after last Q's release. i beleive Pru. has a $74 target on the stock and the analyst is VERY conservative. PS, many Doctor friends of mine are raving about the product, and I beleive the Doctors have a big incentive in selling the injections rather than the pain killer pills that don't even work. Anyone else hear any Dr. reviews of the Synvisc?